Perfected chain for ornamental items

ABSTRACT

The invention is a chain comprising a plurality of cage-shaped elements connected in succession, the cage-shaped element comprising a central body from which two or more lateral bodies branch off whose free ends are arranged opposite each other, slidingly inserted in another cage-shaped element adjacent to the cage-shaped element and facing the corresponding central body. The chain comprises an elastic element interposed between the free ends of the lateral bodies of each cage-shaped element and the central body of the adjacent cage-shaped element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a perfected chain particularly suited tobe used for making ornamental items, for example necklaces or bracelets.

The invention also concerns an ornamental item comprising the abovementioned perfected chain.

Innumerable embodiments of chains for ornamental items are known,comprising a plurality of elements connected to one another insuccession.

According to one of said known embodiments, the chain comprises aplurality of cage-shaped elements connected in succession, each one ofwhich is constituted by a central body from which two or more lateralbodies branch off whose free ends are arranged opposite each other andinserted in an adjacent cage-shaped element, facing the correspondingcentral body.

The lateral bodies delimit the cage-shaped element laterally and arespaced from each other in such a way as to define slots that slidinglyhouse the free ends of an adjacent cage-shaped element.

The chain described above is deformable and extensible in such away asto adapt to the wrist or neck of the person who wears it, since eachcage-shaped element can slide in the adjacent cage-shaped element andcan assume various inclinations with respect to it.

Furthermore, the above mentioned chain is particularly simple, since itcomprises a single type of modular element that can be connected toother analogous elements in any number desired, in order to make chainshaving various lengths.

However, it has the limitation that it is not elastic and, therefore,does not spontaneously fit tightly to the body of the person who wearsit.

The above mentioned limitation poses the drawback that the chain must bemade to size.

Besides, it poses a further drawback represented by the fact that itneeds an opening device that allows it to be put on.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentionedlimitation and drawbacks that are typical of the known art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In particular, it is the object of the present invention to make a chainfor ornamental items of the type described above that is also elastic.

It is a further object of the present invention to carry out a modularelastic chain.

The objects mentioned above have been achieved through the design of achain according to the main claim.

The objects mentioned above are also achieved by an ornamental itemcomprising a chain carried out according to the present invention.

Other details of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention described herein,the chain comprises a plurality of cage-shaped elements connected insuccession, said cage-shaped element comprising a central body fromwhich lateral bodies branch off whose free ends are arranged oppositeeach other, slidingly inserted in another cage-shaped element adjacentto said cage-shaped element and facing the corresponding central body,which also comprises an elastic element interposed between the free endsof the lateral bodies of each cage-shaped element and the central bodyof the adjacent cage-shaped element.

Advantageously, since each elastic element of the chain is associatedwith a single cage-shaped element and is independent of the others, saidelements are suitable for making elastic chains of any length, using thedesired number of cage-shaped elements and associating each of them witha corresponding elastic element.

Still advantageously, the length of the chain can be easily modified byadding or removing one or more cage-shaped elements and thecorresponding elastic elements, with no need to modify the rest of thechain and/or to replace the other elements for this reason.

Furthermore, advantageously, the elasticity of the chain allows it to beadapted to the body of the person who wears it.

Finally, the elastic chain can advantageously be made in the shape of aclosed ring, with no need for opening devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The object and advantages described above will be highlighted in greaterdetail in the description of a preferred embodiment of the inventionthat is supplied as an indicative, non-limiting example with referenceto the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an axonometric view, partially in transparency, of the chaincarried out according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an axonometric view of the components of the chain shown inFIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a section of the chain shown in FIG. 1 in differentoperating positions, in a section view according to the longitudinalplane;

FIG. 5 shows an ornamental item comprising the chain shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The chain subject of the invention is shown in FIG. 1, where it isindicated as a whole by 1.

It can be observed that it comprises a plurality of cage-shaped elements2 connected in succession, one of which is shown, open, in FIG. 1.

Obviously, the above mentioned cage-shaped elements 2 can be present inany number, depending on the length of the chain 1.

As shown in the part represented in transparency in FIG. 1 and, moreclearly, in FIG. 2, each cage-shaped element 2 comprises a central body3 from which two lateral bodies 4 branch off, whose free ends 5 are bentin such a way as to be opposite each other.

It is evident that, in construction variants of the invention, thecage-shaped elements 2 can be provided with more than two lateral bodies4.

The above mentioned free ends 5 are slidingly inserted in an adjacentcage-shaped element 2, through the slots 2 a defined on it by thecorresponding lateral bodies 4, in order to obtain the connection of thecage-shaped elements 2 with one another.

Each free end 5 is preferably provided with a widened part 5 a thatadvantageously prevents it from slipping off the corresponding slot 2 a,thus avoiding the accidental opening of the cage-shaped element 2 andthe consequent interruption of the chain 1.

According to the invention, the chain 1 comprises an elastic element 6interposed between the free ends 5 of the lateral bodies 4 of eachcage-shaped element 2 and the central body 3 of the adjacent cage-shapedelement 2, suited to generate an elastic returning action that tends tocontract the chain 1.

Therefore, the invention achieves the object to make a chain 1 of theknown type described above characterized in that it is elastic.

Advantageously, the special connection described above between thecage-shaped elements 2 and the elastic elements 6 makes it possible toobtain a particularly simple elastic chain 1, since the elastic element6 acts directly on the cage-shaped element 2 that serves also as a seatfor the first one.

Furthermore, since each elastic element 6 is associated with a singlecage-shaped element 2, it is easy to understand that it is possible tomake a chain 1 having any length, using any number of cage-shapedelements 2 and an equal number of corresponding elastic elements 6.

Therefore, the invention achieves the object to carry out a modularelastic chain 1.

Advantageously, the length of the chain 1 can be easily modified byadding or removing cage-shaped elements 2 and the corresponding elasticelements 6, with no need to replace or modify the other elements of thechain 1 for this reason.

Preferably, the length of each elastic element 6 when it is at restexceeds the length of the corresponding housing, that is, the distance Xbetween the free ends 5 of any cage-shaped element 2 and the centralbody 3 of the adjacent cage-shaped element 2, independently of themutual position of the two cage-shaped elements 2.

In this way, advantageously, the elastic elements 6 are alwayscompressed, at least partially, in such a way as to maintain the chain 1elastic with any extension.

The free ends 5 of each cage-shaped element 2 and the central body 3 ofthe adjacent cage-shaped element 2 define a pair of reference surfaces 7a, 7 b, positioned against the two opposite sides of the elastic element6.

Preferably, said reference surfaces 7 a, 7 b are substantially parallelto each other, in such a way as to advantageously provide an optimalsupport for the elastic element 6.

As shown in the above mentioned FIG. 2, the elastic element 6 is acylindrical helical spring 8.

It is evident, however, that in construction variants of the inventionit will be possible to use a spring 8 having a different shape, or anelement different from a spring, provided that it is suitable forreacting elastically to compression.

Preferably and advantageously, each end 8 a, 8 b of the above mentionedhelical spring 8 is welded to the adjacent turn 9 a, 9 b, to prevent theend 8 a, 8 b itself from coming out of the cage-shaped element 2 in caseof accidental rotation of the helical spring 8.

Furthermore, the central body 3 of the cage-shaped element 2 ispreferably provided with a relief area 3 a facing towards the inside ofthe cage-shaped element 2 itself, that, moving to the centre of thehelical spring 8, advantageously contributes to keeping it in optimalposition.

Although not necessary, it is preferable for the free ends 5 of anycage-shaped element 2 to be in contact with each other in order todefine a substantially continuous reference surface 7 b that,advantageously, provides an optimal support for the elastic element 6.

As to the cage-shaped elements 2, they are preferably made of sheet, inparticular of a precious metal.

However, they can also be made of a different material, provided that itis deformable, in order to allow assembly of the chain 1.

In practice, and as shown in the sections of FIGS. 3 and 4, when thechain 1 is stretched, the cage-shaped elements 2 move away from eachother and the free ends 5 of each of them slide in the slots 2 a of theadjacent cage-shaped element 2, thus compressing the correspondingelastic element 6 which reacts with a direct elastic returning action inthe direction of contraction of the chain.

It is clear that a chain of the type described above can be used to makean ornamental item 10, for example a bracelet or a necklace, an exampleof which is shown in FIG. 5.

It can be easily understood that the elasticity of the chain 11 makes itpossible to carry out ornamental items 10 that are closed to form a ringand therefore without opening devices, which represents an advantage interms of aesthetical appearance, ease of production and ease of use.

In fact, an elastic ornamental item 10 can be stretched in order to putit on and fits tightly to the body owing to the elastic returning actionof the chain 11.

In the light of the above considerations, the invention achieves all thepreviously-stated objects.

In particular, the presence of the elastic element achieves the objectto make a chain of the known type described above characterized in thatit is elastic.

Furthermore, the invention also achieves the object to make an entirelymodular elastic chain by using elastic elements, each one of which isassociated with a corresponding cage-shaped element and is independentof the other elastic elements.

In the construction stage, further changes or construction variants ofthe chain of the invention that are not described and represented in thedrawings may be carried out.

Said changes or construction variants must all be considered protectedby the present patent, provided that they fall within the scope of theclaims expressed below.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed byreference signs, those reference sings have been included for the solepurpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordinglysuch reference signs do not have any limiting effect on theinterpretation of each element identified by way of example by suchreference signs.

1. Chain comprising a plurality of cage-shaped elements connected insuccession, wherein each said cage-shaped element comprises a centralbody, two or more lateral bodies that branch off from the central bodyand have free ends that are arranged opposite each other, adapted toslidingly insert in an adjacent cage-shaped element of said chain facingthe central body of the adjacent cage-shaped element, and an elasticelement interposed between the free ends of said lateral bodies and saidcentral body of the adjacent cage-shaped element.
 2. Chain according toclaim 1, wherein said elastic element includes two opposite sides, andsaid free ends of the lateral bodies of each one of said cage-shapedelements and said central body of the adjacent cage-shaped elementdefine a pair of reference surfaces parallel to each other andpositioned against the two opposite sides of said elastic element. 3.Chain according to claim 1, wherein said elastic element includes twoopposite sides, and a length between the opposite sides of said elasticelement when said elastic element is at rest exceeds a distance betweensaid free ends of the lateral bodies of any cage-shaped element and saidcentral body of the adjacent cage-shaped element.
 4. Chain according toclaim 1, wherein said elastic element is an helical spring.
 5. Chainaccording to claim 4, wherein said helical spring is cylindrical. 6.Chain according to claim 4, wherein each end of said helical spring iswelded to an adjacent turn of said helical spring.
 7. Chain according toclaim 1, wherein said central body presents a relief area facing towardsthe free ends of said lateral bodies of said cage-shaped element inorder to maintain said helical spring in position.
 8. Chain according toclaim 1, wherein said free ends of any cage-shaped element are incontact with each other.
 9. Chain according to claim 1, wherein saidcage-shaped elements are constructed of deformed sheet material. 10.Ornamental item suited to be worn, comprising at least one chainaccording to claim
 1. 11. Ornamental item according to claim 10, whereinsaid chain forms a closed geometric figure.
 12. Ornamental itemaccording to claim 10, consisting of a necklace.
 13. Ornamental itemaccording to claim 10, consisting of a bracelet.
 14. Chain according toclaim 5, wherein each end of said helical spring is welded to anadjacent turn of said helical spring.
 15. Ornamental item according toclaim 11, consisting of a necklace.
 16. Ornamental item according toclaim 11, consisting of a bracelet.